Cumberland House road issues preventing students from attending activities

Fosseneuve added that students missing out on opportunities has been an ongoing trend.

“Even today (Friday), they were actually supposed to go to a powwow around the Prince Albert area but the roads are not safe for them to even participate in cultural activities, so it’s just a common trend where we’re cancelling because of the road,” said Fosseneuve.

@panownews paNOW took a drive partway down Hwy 123 towards Cumberland House. This is what it looks like – after it had already dried out a bit. Both the Village and FN say the province and feds need to do more. Ambulances cannot travel the road and neither can the food delivery truck. There is only one way to the area and goods must now be flown in. #skpoli #cdnpolitcs ♬ original sound – paNOW

A close up look at the Cumberland House road.

A couple of Grade 8 students at Ministik said the road issues have really prevented them from having fun.

“The roads are making the place not as fun because we don’t get to go on the trips and do sports because of the bad road,” said Morgan McKenzie.

“We can’t go on trips and stuff to play games because the roads will be that bad that we get stuck in the mud,” added Precious McAuley.

Nisto Awasisak Memorial School, which is on the reserve, has also been impacted by the unreliable road.

“Some of our programs they had to cut because of the poor road condition,” said Celia Deschambeault, Nisto Awasisak’s Director of Education. “One of them was for tryouts for soccer for the reserve side, but there were also some other events that were happening.”

“Some of the teams did go forward, but it was very poor road conditions, and our vehicles are highly impacted. Two vehicles are in the shop right now because of issues with the road.”

The Government of Saskatchewan owns the road, a stretch of about 137 kilometres, most of which is gravel. Fosseneuve said he would like to see a permanent solution from the province

“If they can pave Florida, they can pave Cumberland House,” Fosseneuve mused. “Pave the road…it’s about time.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com

by Nolan Kowal

Cumberland House road issues preventing students from attending activities

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